Nobody’s Perfect is a community-based parenting program for parents of young children. The program was designed to meet the needs of parents who are young, single, socially or geographically isolated, or who have low income or limited formal education.
Nobody's Perfect was developed in the early 1980s by Healthy Canada and the Departments of Health of the four Atlantic provinces. Nobody's Perfect is now delivered in communities across Canada.
Nobody's Perfect is not about changing values. It is about acknowledging the values - and the diversity of values - in any group. The focus is on examining the impact values have on the choices parents make every day. One of the strengths is that it offers parents opportunities to explore their values and understand how values influence parenting and other aspects of their lives. Nobody's Perfect does not teach one "right" way to parent. It helps parents to recognize their strengths and to find positive ways to raise healthy, happy children.
Several studies have shown that participants in the Nobody's Perfect parenting program experience increased:
Find program evaluations here!
After nearly two decades as a program partner, Families Canada is taking on its national coordination, responsible for licensing, governance, training, and quality assurance. The program you know and trust continues, uninterrupted, with the same participant-led, strengths-based approach. We're working closely with the Public Healthy Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Coordinators across Canada, to make the transition seamless. A New Chapter | Un nouveau chapitre | Families Canada.
Nobody’s Perfect Parenting Kits and Tip Sheets are available in the Store.
Note: Nobody’s Perfect parent kits may only be ordered by trained Nobody’s Perfect facilitators.
Donate to strengthen Nobody's Perfect.
To learn more about ongoing and past Nobody’s Perfect projects, please visit our projects page.
Nobody's Perfect Program Resources
The program is offered in a broad range of settings in every Canadian province and territory. Nobody's Perfect is liked and used by many parents and caregivers, including newcomer and Indigenous families.
Trained facilitators offer the Nobody's Perfect program using a learner-centered, strengths-based approach, in line with the concepts of adult learning.
This approach includes:
Across Canada, thousands of community workers, parents, caregivers, and public health nurses have been trained as Nobody's Perfect facilitators. Expertise in parenting is not necessary to facilitate a program.
Nobody's Perfect uses a 'train-the-trainer' approach to training facilitators. The training program is offered virtually through Master Trainers, and in person through Nobody's Perfect provincial/territorial coordinators. The training, which typically lasts four days, supports you to become a facilitator of group learning rather than being an expert in parenting.
Nobody's Perfect facilitators are prepared to change session plans to suit the needs and interests of the participants. The aim is to create a safe, friendly and non-judgmental atmosphere. Learning activities allow parents and caregivers to understand their situation, their child's behaviour and development and to build upon their current skills. The activities encourage self-help and mutual support.
Find upcoming training dates and sign up here!
To learn more, contact your provincial/territorial coordinator.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is transitioning national coordination of the Nobody's Perfect Parenting Program to Families Canada.
This is a new chapter for the program, not a new program. Families Canada has partnered on NPP for many years (including the Multilingual Project since 2017 and Virtual Facilitator Training from 2022-2025) and is taking on national licensing, governance, training oversight, and quality assurance.
Yes. The program continues without interruption. Families, trainers, and facilitators can expect the same participant-led, strengths-based program they know, with no pause in access to materials, training, or support while the transition happens in the background.
Families Canada is responsible for national licensing, governance, program materials, quality assurance, and long-term stewardship of Nobody's Perfect.
Families Canada does not manage CAPCHP (formerly CAPC) or related federal funding. That funding relationship sits directly between the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and individual delivery organizations and is separate from this transition.
The transition of the NPP program to Families Canada is intended to make coordination easier. You'll continue delivering the program as you do now. Over time, we plan to make program information and resources accessible in one place.
We would appreciate your feedback and would be happy to speak with you. For specific inquiries, please contact Melissa, Interim Executive Director at mmcguirkmcneil@familiescanada.ca.
To keep updated on all of Families Canada’s activities, please join our mailing list.
For now, continue using your current points of contact and training portals. Families Canada is working toward a centralized national hub to bring resources into one place. Until it launches Nobodys Perfect remains the best source of information.
In order to run the Nobody’s Perfect program in your organization, you need to become a certified facilitator. You can become a certified facilitator by completing the Nobody’s Perfect facilitator training. Facilitator training is conducted in each province. To find out about facilitator training opportunities in your province, visit the Nobody's Perfect website.
To find a participating group near you, visit the Nobody's Perfect website. Groups are free and voluntary to join.
Parent kits can be purchased on the Families Canada online store.
Tip sheets are available for free download on the online store.
Parent kits are available in 6 languages: English, French, Arabic, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Spanish.
Tip sheets are available in 12 languages: English, French, Arabic, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Tamil, Hindi, Farsi, Vietnamese, Traditional Chinese.
CAD $25.99
Reach out to Melissa, Interim Executive Director at Families Canada - mmcguirkmcneil@familiescanada.ca with any questions about the transition or the program.
